Total Physical
Response Method
Team members:
● Elisabeth Laura Buhl
● Jessenia Solaligue Pacheco
● Jesus Edwin Damian Roque
● Rosmery Chambi Ccapa
● Maribel Puma León
● Anabel Enciso Altamirano
What is the TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPOND Method?
The method was developed by James Asher, a professor of psychology at
San Jose State University, California in the 1960s.
The Total Physical Response Method (TPR) incorporates theories of
developmental psychology, humanistic pedagogy, as well the dramatic or
theatrical nature of language learning.
The main idea behind TPR is based upon the principle of establishing
psychomotor associations to facilitate language learning.
Characteristics
● method of teaching language or vocabulary concepts by
using physical movement to react to verbal input.
● The teacher presents the language in the form of
commands which are demonstrated and modeled by the
teacher and fulfilled by the students, individually and/or in
groups. The meaning is made clear through demonstration.
● language is presented and taught in the form
of imperatives: “put your arms in the air”
Principles
- Stimulating memory with psychomotor associations: This
principle suggests that learning a language is easier when physical
actions are paired with words.
- Comprehension before production: TPR emphasizes
understanding before speaking.
- Lowering the student's anxiety and stress reduction: TPR's focus
on physical activity and non-threatening language learning creates
a relaxed and enjoyable learning environment.
- Inductive teaching of grammar: Instead of explicitly teaching
grammatical rules, TPR uses examples and repetition to help
students discover grammatical patterns naturally.
- Unobtrusive error correction in the early stages: In the initial
stages of learning, TPR focuses on comprehension and avoids
The Total Physical Response Method aims to develop oral proficiency at
the beginner level. A key objective is to make language learning an
enjoyable and stress-free experience, reducing the anxiety often
associated with studying a foreign language. By doing so, it encourages
students to continue learning beyond the initial stages of language
acquisition.
Goals of the Total Physical Response Method
★Language Learning through Physical Activity
★Stress-Free Learning Environment
★
Teacher and Students roles
Teacher role
The teacher determines the content and activities to be performed.
He plays an active and direct role with the students.
Models and presents new materials for use in the classroom.
Initiates classroom activities and interactions (the teacher is like the
director and the students like the actors).
The teacher does interactive monitoring with students.
Students role
Students first listen and observe what the teacher explains, then carry
out the teacher's commands.
The students imitate the teacher in the physical activities, linking it to
language learning.
When they are ready, the roles are reversed and it is the students
themselves who give the orders when performing the activity.
Techniques
The teacher uses orders in
consequences of action. The
orders should be fun and
humorous so that the learning
process is enjoyable.
Advantages
Involves physical activity, which can make
learning more enjoyable and engaging for students,
particularly young learners.
The combination of physical movement with verbal
instructions can improve memory retention.
Create a low-stress environment since students
are not required to produce language immediately.
Natural Language Acquisition, similar to how
children learn their first language.
Teachers can provide instant feedback based on
students' physical responses, helping to correct
misunderstandings on the spot
Disadvantages
Is primarily effective for beginner-level learners and may
not be suitable for advanced language acquisition.
The success of the method relies on the teacher’s
ability to plan and execute activities effectively.
Some students may have physical disabilities or
limitations that make participating in activities
challenging or uncomfortable.
Implementing TPR activities can sometimes lead to chaos
in the classroom if not managed properly, as students
may become overly energetic or disruptive during physical
activities.
Conclusion
While Total Physical Response offers several benefits in enhancing
language learning through physical engagement, it also has
limitations that educators should consider. Balancing TPR with other
teaching methods can help address these disadvantages and
provide a more comprehensive language learning experience.
Than
ks!
